Continuous Learning v2 - Instinct-Based Architecture

An advanced learning system that turns your coding sessions into reusable knowledge through atomic "instincts" — small learned behaviors with confidence scoring.

The Instinct Model

An instinct is a small learned behavior:

---
id: prefer-functional-style
trigger: "when writing new functions"
confidence: 0.7
domain: "code-style"
source: "session-observation"
---

# Prefer Functional Style

## Action
Use functional patterns over classes when appropriate.

## Evidence
- Observed 5 instances of functional pattern preference
- User corrected class-based approach to functional

Properties:

• Atomic — one trigger, one action
• Confidence-weighted — 0.3 = tentative, 0.9 = near certain
• Domain-tagged — code-style, testing, git, debugging, workflow
• Evidence-backed — tracks what observations created it

How It Works

Session Activity
      │
      │ Use /learn to capture patterns
      ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│          PATTERN DETECTION              │
│   • User corrections → instinct         │
│   • Error resolutions → instinct        │
│   • Repeated workflows → instinct       │
└─────────────────────────────────────────┘
      │
      │ Creates/updates
      ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│         instincts/personal/             │
│   • prefer-functional.md (0.7)          │
│   • always-test-first.md (0.9)          │
│   • use-zod-validation.md (0.6)         │
└─────────────────────────────────────────┘
      │
      │ /evolve clusters
      ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│              evolved/                   │
│   • skills/testing-workflow.md          │
│   • skills/refactor-specialist.md       │
└─────────────────────────────────────────┘

Quick Start

1. Initialize Directory Structure

mkdir -p ~/.codex/instincts/{personal,inherited}
mkdir -p ~/.codex/evolved/skills

2. Use the Instinct Skills

/learn               # Extract patterns from current session
/instinct-status     # Show learned instincts with confidence
/evolve              # Cluster related instincts into skills
/instinct-export     # Export instincts for sharing
/instinct-import     # Import instincts from others

File Structure

~/.codex/
├── instincts/
│   ├── personal/           # Auto-learned instincts
│   └── inherited/          # Imported from others
└── evolved/
    └── skills/             # Generated skills

Confidence Scoring

Score	Meaning	Behavior
0.3	Tentative	Suggested but not enforced
0.5	Moderate	Applied when relevant
0.7	Strong	Auto-approved for application
0.9	Near-certain	Core behavior

Confidence increases when:

• Pattern is repeatedly observed
• User doesn't correct the suggested behavior
• Similar instincts from other sources agree

Confidence decreases when:

• User explicitly corrects the behavior
• Pattern isn't observed for extended periods
• Contradicting evidence appears

Privacy

• Observations stay local on your machine
• Only instincts (patterns) can be exported
• No actual code or conversation content is shared
• You control what gets exported